See all 5 routes on Saline River
Arkansas | Central Arkansas
Saline RiverTony Kelly Ford Access to Saline Crossing Access
Long Benton Saline River day from Tony Kelly Ford to Saline Crossing. AGFC documents the public Tony Kelly-to-Lyle and Lyle-to-Saline pieces, the direct Benton gauge ladder, and the lower-river spillway / bridge hazard package, making this a longer guarded add rather than a casual float recommendation.
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Route location
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Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Tony Kelly Ford and take out at Saline Crossing for the longest current lower-Benton Saline day that still uses fully public named accesses. The route combines the upper Tony-Kelly segment with the downstream spillway / bridge hazard package, so mileage and hazard management both matter.
Access map
Put-in
Tony Kelly Ford AccessTony Kelly Ford is a simple public river access with limited parking and no developed campground support in the reviewed source set.
Take-out
Saline Crossing AccessLyle Park is the key intermediate public access before the lower spillway / low-dam and low-water-bridge hazards downstream of Benton.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Saline Crossing, then drive back to Tony Kelly Ford Access. Inspect Tony Kelly, Lyle Park, and Saline Crossing before launch so the group has a firm lower-hazard plan and realistic daylight pace.
Additional access notes
- Cherry Demuth Access is currently closed, so do not treat it as a dependable bailout or shuttle point on this route.
- AGFC says the Benton Water Purification Plant spillway or low dam below Lyle Park should be portaged when the river is below 4 ft, and the downstream low-water bridge loses clearance as the river rises.
More route and safety guidance
- The downstream low-water bridge becomes a stronger clearance problem as water rises; AGFC says there is not enough air space at 6 ft and portage is mandatory.
- Longer mileage, heat, and fewer clean public exits after Lyle Park make this route less forgiving than the shorter Saline splits if weather or pace deteriorates.
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Conditions
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Gauge source
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Weather
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Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Saline River at Benton, AR. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
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Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
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Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Saline River at Benton, AR |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 3.60 ft to 5.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 3.50 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Arkansas Game and Fish Saline River Water Trail gauge bands |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route geometryTony Kelly Ford to Lyle Park 8.2 miles plus Lyle Park to Saline Crossing 4.2 miles
AGFC publishes both public route pieces, supporting a 12.4-mile Tony Kelly Ford to Saline Crossing day through the same reviewed Benton corridor.
- Gauge check during route review · 2026-07-06USGS 07363000
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Stage model3.5 / 3.6-5.0 / 5.0 ft
AGFC labels 3.5 ft and below as low, 3.6-4.0 ft as typical, 4.1-5.0 ft as optimum, and 5.1-5.5 ft as high experienced-only water. Paddle Today uses 3.6-5.0 ft as the broad audience band and treats water above 5.0 ft as outside the general recommendation.
- Endpoint coordinatesTony Kelly Ford Access 34.5844, -92.6938; Saline Crossing Access 34.54106, -92.60718
AGFC publishes both public route endpoints as named map-linked Saline River Water Trail accesses.
- Lower-route hazard rulesSpillway portage below 4 ft; low bridge mandatory at 6 ft
AGFC says the Benton Water Purification Plant spillway or low dam is hazardous and should be portaged when the river is below 4 ft, and that the downstream low-water bridge has insufficient clearance at 6 ft.
- Camping classificationnone
The reviewed AGFC route materials did not identify legal route camping at Tony Kelly Ford or Saline Crossing, and nearby banks should be treated as private.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
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